Hemilitron of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 310

Editor: Here we have a Hemilitron, a coin, by Agathokles of Syracuse. It has a sort of tarnished beauty, like a memory softened by time. What secrets do you think it holds? Curator: Ah, it whispers tales of power and ambition. The tyrant Agathokles, striking his own coin – imagine the audacity! It’s not just currency, it's propaganda, a tiny fist of authority. Do you see the lion? Editor: Yes, it's quite worn, but powerful. A symbol of strength, maybe? Curator: Precisely. A king staking his claim. What strikes me is how something so small can carry such weight, both literal and metaphorical. Editor: It’s fascinating how a simple object can reveal so much about a ruler. I never thought about a coin in this way. Curator: Indeed, we glimpse the spirit of an age. And who knows what hands it has passed through? Editor: I guess it's food for thought, that a coin can be worth more than its weight.